National Margarita Day is this Saturday, and with plenty of area spots serving up Texas’ unofficial state cocktail, neighbors have plenty of options to get in on the fun.
Emilio’s margarita.
Celebrated every year on Feb. 22, National Margarita Day is a celebration of the most Texan of drinks. Margaritas may be a statewide passion, but Dallas has a unique claim to the beloved drink due to Mariano Hernandez’s famed invention, the frozen margarita machine.
While DFW may not be experiencing the most margarita-friendly weather at the moment, and despite differing personal preferences over the question of frozen vs. rocks, it’s a fair bet to assume at least some Lake Highlands neighbors will be getting in on the action Saturday.
Here’s a few spots offering specials for National Margarita Day:
Mariano’s Hacienda
6300 Skillman St.
Around Dallas, Mariano’s is synonymous with the cocktail, no doubt due to its founder, Mariano Martinez. The restraunteur revolutionized the margarita business in 1971 when he repurposed an old soft-serve ice cream machine to serve frozen margs to his customers, creating the world’s first frozen margarita machine. Over a half-century later, the original machine is now in the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Mariano Martinez with his invention – the frozen margarita machine
The cocktail offering at Mariano’s has since expanded to include swirls, strawberry frozens, pina coladas and ranch waters, but The Original Frozen, Martinez’s first creation, still anchors the menu. In the spirit of the holiday, neighbors can head to the ranch and enjoy discounted original frozens for $9.
Taco Joint
9850 Walnut Hill Ln #437
While it may not have the history or the varied selection of Mariano’s, Taco Joint certainly has one thing going for it: price. This Saturday, neighbors can enjoy a rocks or frozen margarita for just $5 a piece.
Other options not offering specials
Paloma and Mambo Taxi
A discussion on margaritas in Lake Highlands would be near sacrilege without mentioning Mi Cocina. Mambo Taxis, swirled with sangria, are the house favorite. Resident Taqueria also has some serious margarita options, and Emilio’s, tucked into Timber Creek Crossing, has tequila-lime concoctions that “pack a punch,” as Carol Toler wrote last Margarita Day.
